Creek dangers

There are "No Swimming" signs posted around Black Creek, but it remains a very popular place to do just that. It proved tragic for a Clay County teenager. Howard Wiley jumped off the dock and tried to swim across with friends when we went under. He resurfaced several times, screaming for help, but he didn't make it.

JOY. . THIS IS A LIVE PICTURE OF THE MAIN STREET BOAT RAMP IN MIDDLEBURG ON THE EDGE OF BLACK CREEK. THIS IS A GIRL THAT TRIED TO SWIM ACROSS THE CREEK AND DIDN'T MAKE IT. WHY THAT PART OF THE CREEK IS SO DANGEROUS. THERE ARE NO SWIMMING SIGNS POSTED BUT IT REMAINS A POPULAR PLACE TO DO JUST THAT. IT PROVED TRAGIC FOR A QUAKE COUNTY TEENAGER. THE TEEN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HOWARD WYLE, VI, AND WE HAVE CONFLICTING REPORTS OF WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS A GOOD SWIRL AND WE LISTENED OF A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL HELD FOR HIM, ANYONE THAT KNEW HIM TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:30 AT TANGOWOOD PARK AND WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY ALL DAY AND WE ARE JOINED NOW FROM MIDDLEBURG. HOWARD WYLE JUMPED OFF THE DOCK TRYING TO SWIM ACROSS THE CREEK. WENT UNDER, RESURFACED SEVERAL TIMES SCREAMING FOR HELP, BUT HE DIDN'T MAKE IT. AT THE FOOT OF THE MAIN STREET BOAT RAMP, THIS BODY WAS FOUND SUBMERGED IN A VAN IN BLACK CREEK IN 2012, HE'S ONE OF THE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE DROWNED HERE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND NOW HOWARD WYLE, IV, TRYING TO SWIM ACROSS THE CREEK IS ADDED TO THE LIST. HE STARTED GOING UNDER AND HE CAME BACK UP SAYING I'M DROWNING, HELP ME, HELP ME. Reporter: ALEX WAS SWIMMING NEXT TO WYLE WHEN IT HAPPENED. HE DESPERATELY TRIED TO SAVE HIM. I THINK HE GOT HIMSELF TIRED AND HE COULDN'T HOLD HIMSELF UP ANYMORE. AFTER I GOT TO HIM, HE SHOVED ME DOWN TO THE BOTTOM. I COULD BARELY MAKE IT TO THE TOP. SWIMMING IS NOT ALLOWED WITHIN 100 OF THE BOAT RAMP AND SEVERAL NO SWIMMING SIGNS ARE POSTED AROUND THE DOCK. WE DO COME PERIODICALLY WITH DEPUTIES AND ASK PEOPLE TO GET OUT OF THE WATER AND LEAVE, BUT OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T HAVE A DEPUTY POSTED 24/7, 365. WHEN WE LEAVE, PEOPLE SWIM. ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS CALM, THE CURRENT IS STRONG AND THE CREEK IS DARK AND FULL OF DEBRIS. AFTER TWO HOURS AND 15 MINUTES OF SEARCHING FOR WYLE, DIVERS FOUND HIS BODY UNDER WATER STRAIGHT UP FROM THE BOAT RAMP. THIS IS A SUMMERTIME RICH FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO JUMP IN BLACK CREEK. IT'S COOL WATER AND CLEAN WATER AND A FUN THING TO DO, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS UNFORTUNATELY, WHY THIS IS A NO SWIMMING AREA. IT'S REALLY NOT A SAFE PLACE TO SWIM. IN ADDITION TO TIMMERS AND WYLE, THERE ARE TWO CROSSES WHERE TWO OTHERS DIED HERE AND THE WATER IN BLACK CREEK IS SO DARK, IF YOU PUT YOUR HAND UNDER THE SURFACE, YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE IT SO THE DIVERS HAD TO FEEL AROUND

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